1. Bioshock

The number one game of 2008, Bioshock is a first-person shooter game with RPG elements that takes place in an alternate version of the 1960s. A businessman created a city called Rapture underwater, where the greatest of humanity could live free of the problems of the surface world and advance humanity. Jack, a man who finds himself in Rapture after his plane crashes, begins to unravel the truth behind the city and his own origins, while dealing with the gene-re-writing ADAM cells, the mysterious Little Sisters, and the frightening and massive Big Daddies. The storyline is highly engrossing, focusing on choices of morality with different endings, each of which are extremely emotional. It is frightening, exciting, and one of the best video games ever created.

2. Halo 3

The final game in the Halo trilogy that chronicles the battle between the cybernetically-enhanced Master Chief and the United Nations Space Command and the theocratic group of aliens called the Covenant. Master Chief defeats the High Prophet of Truth and the Gravemind at long last. It balances the weapons triangle of the previous two games and adds the ability to dual wield guns. There are also new secondary weapons and equipment for additional bonuses. It manages to continue the great story and gameplay of the previous two games without destroying what made them great, while continuing to build upon the series’ pre-existing elements, like the ability to edit multiplayer maps.

3. Gears of War 2

The continuation of the science fiction tactical/first person shooter series, Gears of War, that involves humanity’s battle with the alien Locust Horde after the detonation of the Lightmass Bomb in the previous game. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago continue their struggle against the Locust while dealing with another enemy: the infected Lambent Locust, which have been greatly mutated and have pushed the Locust out of their homes underground. The plot is exciting, though the ending falls a tad flat. However, the many new multiplayer modes and all sorts of new weapons make this an excellent buy for any owner of an Xbox 360.

4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

The near-future installment of the army-based first person shooter series, Call of Duty. A coup d’état in the Middle East combined with an ultranationalist movement erupting in Russia lead to the involvement of the American Marines and the British Special Air Service, resulting in a complex military and political struggle for the fate of the world. The story’s narrative is highly compelling, and the characters are rich and complex. The gameplay is also exciting, though it does nothing that the genre has not seen already. Additionally, the game’s numerous multiplayer modes and options make it an instant classic for the system.

5. Mass Effect

An American action RPG, Mass Effect is about the future, when humankind has made it to the stars. While on a mission to learn about an extinct race, Commander Shepard, the customizable main character, gets caught up in a complex political and evolutionary power play, one that involves inorganic beings called the Reapers and the universal force called the Mass Effect, the game’s interpretation of dark matter. The game is primarily geared towards shooter action, with an emphasis on choices of morality in NPC interaction. It is a hugely interactive game with all sorts of great science fiction ideas, and the game world is so deep that you will get lost in it.